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Confession Time! And Band Fit Issues.
Soooo until I found ABTF, I had never put any of my bras on tighter hooks, always just fastened them on the loosest set. I am not sure why, might be related to the fact that I exclusively wore sports bras until I was 19, or because Mom may have stressed that they'd wear out faster if they were tighter.
Yesterday, when I took off one of my Anna Pardal bras, I noticed in the mirror that the back band marks arched up at least a good inch, maybe 2 inches. I'm wearing the other AP bra today, on the second hooks. It feels fine except that the cups actually feel painfully small, now.
Upon putting my AP on upside down and backward to test the band, I easily clasp it on the tightest hook. When putting on a bra for the day, I always fasten the band behind my back, and if I struggle with it I use an extender. I struggled with my Comexim Queen of Hearts, so I thought the band was too small-- so I decided to try it upside down and backward as well, and clasped it easily. So then I fastened it in the front, and spun it to put it on, and no joke it cleared up every fit issue I had with that bra. And I was surprised with how comfortably the band fit.
My torso is V shaped. I have a pretty deep trench along my spine, and have wondered before if I have a flared ribcage. Could any of those things cause these issues with band fit?
Often a band will seem to fit, and then ride up like it's too big. My SO sometimes thinks my band is too tight, but usually the marks he's pointing out are wire marks (they're usually the only ones that sometimes get a deep, angry look to them). The only places I've ever felt bruised are where the gore sits (in practically anything but AP, including EM if I wear them for more than 2 days) and where too-wide wires dig into my ribs or armpits (most UK bras I've tried).
Filed under Bra sizing and fit
I have a wide v-shaped back, add to that the fact that I'm wide root and shallow and that's a recipe for serious fit issues. Bands feeling too tight and cups feeling to big. For me the biggest problem is not the band riding up, but riding down, the tighter the band the more the band wants to slide down and adds lot's tension on the straps. I have found that wider bands seem to help spread out the load and seem to stay in place better. Non-stretch straps, though not as comfortable, also helps keep the band from sliding down and keeps the bra "fitting" throughout the day.
If your torso is very tapered (like mine), it might be almost inevitable to have your band sit higher in the back: if you wrap a straight strip of fabric (or paper, if you'd like to try this experiment for yourself) around a cone-shaped object it simply will not sit horizontally.